Patriots: Amendola hopes to rebound

The Patriots are in Richmond, Virginia this week for joint training camp practice sessions with the Washington Redskins today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Pats play the Redskins in the preseason ope...

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The Patriots are in Richmond, Virginia this week for joint training camp practice sessions with the Washington Redskins today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Pats play the Redskins in the preseason opener at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at FedEx Field in Washington.

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WITH WIRE REPORTS

FOXBORO — Comfortable. The word was removed from Danny Amendola's vocabulary one year ago.

After four seasons in St. Louis, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound wide receiver made the move to New England, where he had the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of Wes Welker.

With 10 receptions for 104 yards in a 23-21 win over Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium last Sept. 8, in his first game with the Patriots, Amendola looked like the second coming.

Those opening-day heroics came at a steep price, however. He suffered a severe groin injury, missed four games, and it continually ailed him.

At season's end, Amendola had 54 receptions — roughly a half-year's work for the "slot machine" that preceded him in New England.

Now in his second training camp with the Patriots, Amendola insists he's in more of a comfort zone than he was when he arrived as a free agent a year ago.

"I feel comfortable," said Amendola "It's different. A year under your belt in a system and a new place and a new organization. It's kind of like when a rookie comes in for the first time and tries to learn a new offense. It might be difficult sometimes, but the second year that learning curve is much less.

"I feel very comfortable right now, and (I'm) just trying to come out here and work."

All the while attempting to maintain good health, a benefit he's sorely lacked throughout an injury-plagued career.

The one season in St. Louis in which Amendola went wire-to-wire was easily his most productive: 85 receptions for 689 yards and three touchdowns with the Rams in 2010.

Over the past three seasons, Amendola's been a 50-50 proposition: 24 games played; 24 games missed. His health a never-ending concern, Amendola was channeling his inner James Brown following a recent training camp practice on the fields behind Gillette Stadium.

"I feel good now. I feel good," he said. "That's really the only thing I can say. It's football. This is a tough sport."

With a number of new hands on deck — Amendola and second-round draft pick Aaron Dobson, fourth-rounder Josh Boyce and undrafted free agent Kenbrell Thompkins among them — the Patriots' passing game endured some trying times last year, as reflected in Tom Brady's numbers, which suffered.

Although, one year later, Dobson (foot) has been unable to get on the field, the quarterback believes the passing game (which now includes Brandon LaFell, an offseason free-agent pickup from Carolina) is working to improve.

"Danny and all of the guys who are coming in here after their first year with our team — it's a different offense," Brady said, alluding to the learning curve. "We do quite a few things. We move guys around a lot, there are a lot of post-snap reads, a lot of pre-snap reads, there is a lot of non-verbal communication that goes on.

"We're still working at it, and (Danny) he's been out here every day working his butt off, too. That's been great to see, and for the most part we've had full participation, so that's really helping our team get better."

ROAD TRIP: The Patriots hit the road on Sunday and will be in Richmond, Virginia, for three days of joint workouts with the Redskins in preparation for Thursday's preseason opener against Washington.

For most Patriots, it is a road trip. For James Develin, it will be a reunion.

The trip will reunite Develin with Jay Gruden, his coach with the Florida Tuskers of the now-defunct United Football League in 2010 and the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati in 2011 when the fullback-tight end spent the entire season on the Bengals' practice squad.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him," Develin said. "I haven't really kept in touch. We're both busy guys. He's head coach of the Redskins now so I'm sure he's been very, very busy. I'm glad that he's doing so well and that he's been given the opportunity to move up."

Develin was given an opportunity to move up at the end of the 2010 UFL season when he was signed to the Bengals' practice squad. He returned to that role for all of 2011 before being waived and signed by the Patriots' on Sept. 1, 2012.

He made his NFL debut on special teams in the Patriots' 41-34 loss to San Francisco in Foxboro on Dec. 16, 2012, the only game in which he appeared that year. Carving out a niche, Develin appeared in all 16 regular-season games and its two playoff games last year, contributing to the team's highlight film by breaking a half-dozen tackles to score in a 34-31 win over Houston.

Statistically, his role was modest — Develin had just nine touches for 72 yards and one touchdown in regular-season and postseason play. But roots were even more humble.

"Just trying to stay in the game and get some film," Develin said of the time he spent in the UFL after graduating from Brown University. "I wasn't really getting any looks from NFL teams so I figured why not go down there and play the game I love. Just keep trying and luckily everything worked out for me."

When they return from their trip, the Patriots will have joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles next week in Foxboro leading into the preseason home opener with the Eagles at Gillette on Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

ROSTER SPOT FILLED: The Patriots filled the open spot on their 90-man roster created by Saturday's release of wide receiver Cole Stanford by re-signing James Morris, a rookie linebacker from Iowa they previously signed and released.